East Texas

By MALENA OGLES
Staff Writer

VAN -- Students and parents caught their first glimpse of the shiny red lockers, spacious classrooms and Van Vandals gymnasium during a dedication ceremony held Sunday for the new Van Middle School.

Construction on the new school wrapped up earlier this year. The facility is designed to house approximately 600 students with the core facilities designed for a capacity of 800 students.

"We don't build cheap facilities. We build go the extra mile and build things that will last if we maintain them," Van ISD Executive Director of Facilities David Goff said.

The facility, which is well-lit, spacious and is equipped with state-of-the-art technology and a security system, will house grades four, five, and six.

Currently around 500 students are enrolled for the 2008-09 school year.

"We've got kids that can't wait to come to school here and teachers that can't wait to get started. We're so excited," Van ISD Board of Trustees president Shelby Davidson said.

Teachers moved into the 74,000 square foot facility in early August, preparing for the school year.

Fourth-grade teacher Becky Rosson said, the new building is just as exciting for the teachers as it is was for the students.

"We didn't have any of this," Rosson said looking from classroom to classroom. "We did the best we could with what we had."

Rosson, who has taught at Van ISD for 19 years, said she is excited about the extra room and having everything she needs to teach in one area.

"It will be much easier to organize," she said, looking into one of the spacious closets located in each classroom.

Each grade wing is equipped with a full computer lab and each classroom has four computers.

"It's way better," sixth grader Samantha Chase said while walking the hallway of her new wing. "It's all new."

Sixth grade science teacher Jim Tindall said he's most excited with the idea of using the two ponds and 55 acres of land behind the school as an outdoor classroom.

"We're going to be putting in trails and amphitheaters and eventually we will have it so that any of the schools in the surrounding area can be bussed over here so that can use it to study ecosystems," he said.

Tindall said the school has been in talks with the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department about some of the project ideas. He hopes that with in the next two school years to be able to have an outdoor education class as an elective.

In May 2006, Van voters overwhelmingly supported three bond proposals that total nearly $40 million. The first bond phase, which passed with 75 percent of the vote, designated $24.7 million to construct a new middle school, and to purchase land and complete other improvements and additions on the intermediate and high schools.

During the dedication ceremony, board members and school officials once again thanked the community for making the new Van Middle School possible.

"Our population came down here and approve it in a big way," Davidson said. "I just want you to know that those of us on the board have not forgotten that and we appreciate you. Without you, none of this would have been possible and I hope you are as excited about the opening of school as we are."

Former Commissioner of Education and retired superintendent of Dallas ISD Dr. Mike Moses, spoke at the dedication and told attendees that by approving the bond election, they made an investment in the future of Van.

"The financial sacrifices that were made need to be recognized. Funding schools is not easy today. It's expensive to educate, but as our honorable state representative knows, it's more expensive to not educate. It's more expensive to incarcerate, more than five times more expensive to incarcerate," Moses said.

Moses told the crowd that the fastest growing populations are under 18 years old and over 55. He said that the question of the future will be if the old will pay to educate the young.

"The day we decide we're not going to do that is the day we really do threaten our way of life," he said. "This community through your bond election and perhaps through other elections may be asked to sacrifice. I congratulate you and I thank you."

The final bond project is the athletic complex which includes relocating the softball field, new tennis courts and new football stadium. The football stadium is expected to be completed for the opening of the football season in September 2009. The addition to the junior high, which includes a new gymnasium, is expected to be complete for the 2009 basketball season.

Dr. Mike Moses speaks at a dedication ceremony for the new Van Middle School Sunday in Van.
(Staff Photo By Mark Roberts)